2011 Faves

I love lists. To-do lists, grocery lists, top ten lists, etc etc. My brain functions best in list mode. So, here you have it… a list of my favorite 2011 moments (in no particular order). Bring on 2012 and all the lists it will entail.

1. Joshua started walking. Sure, more mobility means more work for us, but how fun to see him run around and explore the world! One of my favorite things ever about this new skill of his is that he’s recently learned how to hold my hand while we walk together. My heart melts when he reaches up for my hand with his little fingers. Sigh.

2. Lots of time in the great state of Washington = lots of time with both our families. We spent a good chunk of our summer in Seattle and while the reason we were there will not be making this list (Jason’s mom’s heart surgery), it was so wonderful to get so much time there (and with sunshine at that!)

3. Mexico, baby. Not only did we trade in a wintery March week for a balmy week on the beach but we spent a chunk of quality time with “Grandpa & Bubbie”. That’s my kind of multi-tasking! Plus, Joshua had his first beach experience to boot.

Oh, and I PET A BABY TIGER. It’s not every year you can say that.

4. We discovered a beautiful lake “hiding” in our neighborhood. Actually, I knew it was there but why didn’t I ever visit? I love living close to a park with water!

5. A new addition to our family: our housemate Brandi. Ok, so technically she’s not a Kelly but she drinks coffee like she is and we’ve officially converted her to our nightly ritual of eating a bowl of cereal before bed. Plus, Joshua adores her and she’s the one who really discovered the lake and she snagged me my part time job. Come on, let’s give it up for Brandeis!

6. Speaking of my part-time job, that makes the list as well. I am grateful for the additional income, the hours that fit our schedules just right, and the finding of a job that includes down time for things like menu planning and checkbook balancing. (I don’t have a picture for this one… I mean, I guess I could bring my camera to work one day and take a thrilling self-timer portrait of me sitting at a desk, but I most likely never will)

In lieu of a work picture, I will include my favorite daddy & son picture of the year. Working a couple days a week has also resulted in more quality bonding time for Joshua and Jason.

7. While Jason’s mom’s aforementioned heart attack and surgery are not things I would have hoped for in 2011, we are oh so ever grateful that she is still alive and kicking. Not only that but she came to visit us! We have enjoyed having “Nanny” around for the holidays and have loved getting to share our life here in Kansas City with her.

8. Eight years of marriage to my bobo. I hope one day we can say we’ve been bobos for 80 years… I’ll be 106 and he’ll be 109 and we’ll still call each other bobo and we’ll still be best friends. That’s my plan. (And Joshua will be OLD.)

9. We took an action packed awesome 5 day trip to California . We made new friends, stayed on a pomegranate farm, Jason spoke at a children’s camp (which he was awesome at), we saw two of my old childhood friends and I had the chance to show Jason my childhood home and city. So fun.

10. This face. Joshua makes it when he finds something utterly delightful. It might be swinging, sliding, puppies, being tickled, his daddy or a number of other things. He’s such a joy.

I thought of about 8,000 more things in the process of making this list but I’m pretty sure I’ve already overloaded you with photos, if you even made it this far. There are many more family members, friends and events I am grateful for this past year. So, thanks for being a part of our 2011 and happy new year!